The Girl Next Door

What happens now?

Dylan’s POV

I never cried so much in my life honestly. I have been crying none stop since that day; that horrible day. All I keep thinking is that it’s my fault. If I didn’t go to Alex’s house that day none of this would have happened. I haven’t even been able to look at Michele since it happened. She just keeps crying and she tries to comfort me and tell me it’s not my fault, but I don’t believe her. She didn’t see the way Austin looked at me when he walked in on me and Alex. The worst part of this all is that he doesn’t know what really happened. He doesn’t know what Sarah told me the other day and he doesn’t know why I went to Alex’s. The worst by far is that he doesn’t know that I didn’t kiss Alex, Alex kissed me. Oh yeah, that reminds me, Alex is horrible. He won’t talk to anyone, not even Sarah. He’s not talking to the boys, his parents, Michele and especially not me. He just sits in the same chair, every day, and stares at the floor. He looks like he’s really hurt. I mean we all are, but he’s the closest with Austin; they’re like brothers.

“The next visitor can come in now.” The doctor said so I stood up, took a deep breath, and then walked in. It was heartbreaking. As soon as I looked at him, my heart dropped. I saw him before but this time he looked different. He laid there on the hospital bed motionless; as if he was dead. I sat down on the chair next to him and grabbed his hand.

“Austin please wake up. I can’t lose you. I know you don’t know the whole story, but I didn’t kiss Alex, he kissed me. But don’t be mad at him, he feels horrible. I can’t help but think all of this is my fault. If I didn’t go to Alex’s house that day then none of this would have happened. Austin if you don’t wake up I won’t be able to live with myself. I love you, please wake up. Not just for me, but for your mom, and Alex. They really need you right now. I have to go but please wake up. I love you babe.” I spilled my heart out. I sat there for a few more minutes, just waiting to see if his eyes would open, or if he would move his hand, but nothing happened. I leaned down and kissed his hand and then stood up. I started to pull my hand away from his, but he gripped it, and wouldn’t let me go. “Oh my god,” I yelled, “He’s awake, guys he’s awake!” Everyone came running in with excited faces that soon turned back into frowns when they saw his eyes weren’t open. “He gripped my hand when I tried to pull away.” I explained. “I think he heard what I said.”

“That’s impossible.” The doctor said. “You probably just imagined it. He’s in a coma and he can’t move.”

“NO! IT REALLY HAPPENED!” I argued, tears running from my eyes. Michele walked toward me and tried to put her arms around me but I rejected her and ran out of the room. They all thought I was crazy. Why didn’t they just believe me? I know they all wanted to but they didn’t because the Doctor said it couldn’t happen. I ran straight outside and sat down on a bench in the front. Tears were running from my eyes uncontrollably. I heard the hospital doors open behind me but I didn’t pay much attention to it. Soon enough a familiar person sat down next to me. They didn’t say anything; they just put their hand on my leg and rubbed it. “It happened, it really happened.” I said quietly.

“I know. I believe you.” Alex said. I put my head down on his shoulder and didn’t say another word. Did he really believe me or was he just trying to be nice?

••••

3 months. It’s been three months since the accident. School started and it’s horrible. Every day I go to school and then go straight to the hospital. Austin and I are all over every magazine and it’s horrible. I can’t go anywhere without being mobbed. And now since Austin is in the hospital Dave is my body guard. I just wish this all could be over. All the waiting, all the anxiety. Michele never leaves the hospital. She sleeps there every night. I’ve been a mess to say the least. I’m failing all of my classes because I don’t do my homework or study. Alex isn’t doing so well either. Him and Sarah broke up, finally. I think that even though he knows that it was the right thing to do, it still hurts. I did wind up telling him about what she told me, and he cried in my arms. At that moment I wasn’t sure if it was really the fact that she did that or what was going on with Austin. Now I realize it’s both. My parents think I should go to a therapist, so I’m going today. I don’t know what they expect to get out of it though. All I’ve been doing the past three months is spilling out my feelings and to be honest, I’m kind of bored with it. I sat in the car silently. I really didn’t feel like talking, but I was being forced to. All I wanted to do was to go and see Austin, but no. “You do that every day.” My mom would argue. I stepped out of the car and walked into the therapist office.

“Mrs. Howard, take a seat. It’s nice to meet you.” The therapist said as I walked in. I didn’t say anything; I just shook my head and sat down. “So what are you heard to talk about Dylan?” She asked.

“Well my boyfriend has been in a coma for three months and he’s on the verge of death and it’s all my fault.” I told her.

“It is not your fault. It couldn’t possibly be your fault?”

“He got in a car accident because he was upset after he saw me and his best friend kissing.”

“You couldn’t stop the car from hitting him and you didn’t make him drive so it is not your fault. This is not a time for assigning blame anyway. This is a time for praying and being there for your boyfriend.”

After the session was finally over, I didn’t feel any better. I still felt like it was my fault and I still wanted to cry my eyes out. I knew it wouldn’t help and I just wish my parents would see it too so I don’t have to waist two hours of my life there every week. I went to the hospital right after I was done there and when I got to Austin’s room no one was waiting outside like usual. Usually there were at least a few reporters there if no one else but I guess they finally told them they had to leave. I looked at the door 124 it read. I took a deep breath and then walked in. My heart dropped to my stomach. It started to get harder to breath and then I stopped breathing all together and collapsed on the floor. I stared in front of me, with tears running from my eyes, at the empty room and empty bed.